About The Last Time

CHAPTER 1 - NEVER EARLY

She tapped her pen in the conference table while counting the minutes. Her forehead was creased which later turned into a full frown as the number of passing minutes increased.

'Why does it always have to be me at the waiting end?' She asked herself before impatiently doodling chaotic heavy lines over a blank page in her organizer, her way of releasing the annoyance. Waiting is never easy. Especially when there's a pile of paperworks waiting in the office desk.

Thankfully, before she turns to another blank page, the door of the conference room opened, revealing Namjoon in his mint green long sleeves, both of which were neatly rolled up just beneath his elbows. The only adornment in his left arm is his silver rolex, which she remembered was her graduation gift to him.

Namjoon is her friend, a cousin of a cousin.

"Hey Maya! How long have you been here?" He asked, as if it's just normal that a busy woman is sitting idle in a room, waiting for the participants of the meeting. He carefully laid a medium-sized cup of coffee in her table. Fast food.

He must have waited for her answer but she did not reply. Instead, she just threw him an annoyed look then continued her chaotic doodles which Namjoon noticed. And then he knew it, she's boiling up inside. His relaxed smile vanished in an instant.

"Oh I'm sorry.. You were here early? I'm really sorry, the others will be coming in a short while," Namjoon stated in panic as he fumbled on his pocket for his phone and called the others. Of all things she hated, waiting is the most. "Sorry.."

"Noona!" Jungkook came in with a few snacks on his hand. "I'm the second!"

"Jeon Jungkook, are you going on a picnic?" She asked blankly.

He giggled. "Just in case the meeting takes longer than expected. And here--" he chirped as he placed a rectangular box in front of her. "Mom baked some for ya. Nah.. Actually it's your mom and my mom. Aunt asked you to drop by. Bring your boyfriend, she said, if not, her grandson."

Namjoon chuckled while trying so hard to not make it sound offensive to the already annoyed woman in the seat next to him. She warned him through her eyes so he pretended to be drinking his coffee to cover his smile.

Soon enough, eight of them took the seats in the conference table. Kim Namjoon. Kim Seokjin. Min Yoongi. Jung Hoseok. Park Jimin. Kim Taehyung. Jeon Jungkook. And her, Su Maya.

All of them, aside from the fact that the men are cousins by blood, are co-owners of Busan Travels and Shipping Corp, the most prestigious travel agency which caters to the luxurious business travels and events of the top conglomerates all over Asia.

"Maya, how was your trip to and from China?" Jin asked.

She made a face. "Everything was all fine until 30 minutes ago," she replied, giving off a hint of how long she had been waiting.

"Sorry. It's because of him," Jin pointed a finger to Jimin who jokingly bit it while flashing a guilty smile at Maya. "He kept on drawing on his eyes when nothing even changed. Not a bit. A tiny bit. It's still small, just like him noh?"
  

"You better stop now before I tell your mom about the flirting scandal with Goo--"
  

"Fine. I'm shutting it." Jin muttered before shifting into a businessman mode again. That's probably his best side. "So, how's the atmosphere in China? Is everything settled with the venue and arrangements for the Presidential daughter's wedding?"

Maya nodded. "The way I see it, it seems like everything is going perfectly smooth. I had a first hand with the arrangements, then left after settling every details down. Our manager there will do well, I know. I told him to call me if any emergency arises."

"Yah, he should." - Yoongi
 

"It's the Presidential daughter afterall." Namjoon said. "That will be a great promotion for our China market."
 

"Yeah. It is. Everything must go as neatly as planned." Maya agreed. "Taehyung-a, what about the scheduled cruise wedding for Song Ji Hyo? Is everything polished?"

"Yeah Noona.. But--"

"Cut it," Maya cut him midway, raising a palm in front of Taehyung. "I hate buts. Take care of the buts yourself. I trust that you can. It's not your first time." 

"Uhm, yeah.." There was no conviction in Taehyung's voice.
  

"Spill it. What's wrong?" Namjoon asked. "Short of manpower? Unsettled requests of the bride and groom?

"The thing is.."
 

"Say it." Jin urged.

"The bride especially requested that Maya noona should be there to make sure that everything is going well."

"Hmm? Me?" She looked like she never expected that. "Why me?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe because she trusts women more than men? You know, all feminine and perfectionist."

"Nonsense. She should have married a lesbian or a principal if that's the case." - Yoongi

"Noona, do you and Ji Hyo noona have a thing?" Jungkook asked which earned him a glare from all directions. "Okay, okay, forget that I said that."
  

"Taehyungie, what were you saying again?"
 

"Noona--"
 

"Just say it, geez!"

"The groom is your ex."
  

• • •

It was raining, raining so hard but she didn't mind. She stood in the rain for almost an hour, motionless, lips slightly moving like a baby forming her first word. She was staring blankly to where he disappeared.

He was there to bring an umbrella to her, but he accidentally overheard them talk.

"Let's break up." The guy said. "This is the last time that I'm going to answer your call. Don't call me ever again."

"Are you serious?" She asked, shock and pain was written all over her face.

"I just used you for display. It's not a good sight that a guy walks around without a girl attached into his side. My friends told me that only fools fall for you. Well, I'm not a fool. Maybe I really liked you before but I grew tired. You're so controlling and an insane nagger."

His fists closed tight as he fought really hard with the urge to throw them to the guy's face. What a trash!

~~~